Mechanics at Marriott: Rookie QB Faulkner still full-time student

“He was seen taking drops in the hallway at the Marriott hotel the last couple days,” Harbaugh said.

Kory Faulkner. (AP)

Moments later, the undrafted rookie quarterback from Southern Illinois confirmed that, indeed, he’s spent some recent afternoons working on his mechanics while avoiding the maid service.

“I’m not going to do it in the bedroom, there’s beds,” Faulkner said. “So I went in the hallway and started doing some footwork stuff.”

Given his fondness for extra work, Faulkner was no doubt thrilled to learn he is the only true quarterback in the 49ers’ three-day rookie minicamp. Wide receiver Bruce Ellington, a quarterback in high school, will provide some relief, but Faulkner will rarely step out of the spotlight.

Any concerns about a sore arm?

“I think my adrenaline will be going good enough,” he said.

One of five quarterbacks on the 49ers’ 90-man roster, Faulkner (6-4, 227) figures to battle McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Josh Johnson for a third-string spot. Last year, Faulkner, who missed three games with a fractured finger, threw for 18 touchdowns and four interceptions and led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in passing yards per game (221.9).

In early March, Harbaugh saw Faulkner throw at Northwestern’s pro day, where Harbaugh had a lengthy throwing session with Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. After studying video of Faulkner, Harbaugh followed up with a get-to-know-you phone call in April. He met Faulkner at Southern Illinois on his way back home from a trip to the Midwest about three weeks before the draft.

“I really do like his competitive nature,” Faulkner said. “It’s an ideal fit for me. I hate losing. I love winning. I like to be one of the hardest workers on the team. So to be able to learn from him, it’s great … When coach Harbaugh gives me any instruction that I can work on, I definitely want him to see that I’m working hard.”

Said Harbaugh: “He is really diligent. He is really into it. He’s really conscientious and it shows up when he comes out here. He’s calling the plays in the huddle, he’s moving the offense, getting them up to the line of scrimmage and making very few mistakes. You can tell that he’s studying.”

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Harbaugh declined to say if outside linebacker Aldon Smith would participate in the start of training camp on July 23. Smith, who pleaded no contest to three felony weapons charges and a misdemeanor DUI charge Wednesday, is scheduled to have his sentencing hearing July 25.

“I’m not going to get into speculating on what’s going to happen, what could happen, what will happen,” Harbaugh said.

Smith is participating in the offseason program and “doing what he says he’s going to do,” Harbaugh said.